It's crunch week for Gareth Southgate as the Premier League chairman prepare to consider his future on Wednesday.

The Boro boss admitted today that the matter was out of his hands - but is hoping to notch a memorable hat-trick.

Southgate said: "We've had two positive results with the two clean sheets at the Riverside and getting the nod on Wednesday would feel like a hat-trick.

"The decision has nothing to do with me so all I am doing is getting on with the job.

"I have the backing of the chairman and I am concentrating on working towards making the changes that I want to bring in here."

Boro chief executive Keith Lamb has worked hard to overcome the problem of Southgate's lack of coaching qualifications and will be hoping to have the proposed solution rubber stamped at the meeting this week.

Provided the Premier League chairmen are in agreement, Southgate will complete his B badge shortly, be fast tracked through his A badge in January, and then start his pro-licence next summer to meet UEFA regulations.

The confirmation will finally lift a veil off Southgate's role in the Boro hot seat, though he added: "Of course it needs to reach a conclusion because it is getting a lot of media attention.

"But if we are talking about hat-tricks, I would prefer a win against Villa on Saturday.

"Obviously I have lots of hours of studying ahead of me on top of everything else but I'm looking forward to getting on with it."